Method of and apparatus for conveying and mixing concrete.



A. H. DAEHLER. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND MIXING CONCRETE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB."24. 1909. I 1,201, 1 5 5. v Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1- A. H. DAEHLER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUSYFOR CONVEYING AND MIXING CONCRETE. I

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. I909.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

5 $HEETSSHEET 2.

A. H. DAEHLER. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND MIXING CONCRETE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. I909.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w M W W I wmnm 7 1m I W Q f w p ////Z///// I I I I MN I 0 A. H. DAEHLER. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND MIXING CONCRETE.

APPLICATION FILED 8.24, 1909.

Patented .Oct. 10, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- A w A w j A. H. DAEHLER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND MIXING CONCRETE.

APPLICATION FIL'ED'FEB. 24. 1909.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

5 SHEETS-$HEET 5.

I building material snares ra ranr caries.

ALFRED H. DAEHLEB, or LOS Ans-Ems, camr'oan a.

METHCD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND MIXING CONCRETE.

.new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Conveying and Mixing Concrete, of which the following is a specification. A

- This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for delivering a mass of liquids and solids to suitable places of use or deposit, as in the construction of buildings and the like.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to supplant the present methods of transportation of plastic building material from the mixer to the molds by a systematic method embodied in a single compact and portable device in which a stream or jet of semi-fluid material under pressure;

is caused to discharge into suitable troughs or other receptacles and in which the stream or jets are constantly under the control of the operator. I

The conveyance of concrete and semi-fluid to its destination is coupled with an extraordinary absorption of time and labor, and above all, considerable waste; the concrete when delivered is not in the same condition as it was when discharged from the mixer since the more composite and heavier particles of the concrete mixture are found to have settled, while the water has nearly separated itself from the body, thus leaving the concrete in an unfit condition and causing the same to crack and chip by reason of the incomplete mixing of the two necessary ingredients.

It is therefore a further object of this invention to rovide a method of and apparatus for'de 'veringifla semi-fluid building material in a thoroughly mixed condition, y

and if desired in a more complete mixed 'condition than when it was discharged from a the mixer,

and to so ,deliverthe material that, during its course of travel to its place of deposit, the, component ingredients will not become separated.

While this invention contemplates the employment of preferably pneumatic pressure though any other pressure means maybe employed upon a confined body of building material-1n a state of semi-fluidity to cause Specification of Letters Patent.

. apparatus.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

' Application filed February 24, 1909. Serial No. 479,852.

a stream to be projected through nozzles or pipes, it is not to be confounded with devices for the delivery of granular, amy

laceous or pulverulent material, in which the pneumatic means is used principally, in fact solely as a blast, because the essential object of this invention would be defeated by a blast.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the new and useful -method of conveying fluids or semi-fluids and solids, and in the provision of simple means for effectively carrying out the method, a preferred embodiment of such means appearing in the accompanying drawings, and the invention being particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus constructed and organized in accordance with the invention, parts being omitted and parts being broken away to illustrate interior construction.- Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view taken on the line a? Fig. 1 showing the construction and arrangev ment of valves. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view illustrating valve construction, and elastic washer. Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevation showing in detail the treadle mechanism forgoverning the float and the operating mechanism for the lower valve. Fig. 5 is' a side elevation of a pipe adapted to connect the outlet from a pressure chamher with a stand-pipe having a helical conveyer disposed therein and adapted to be substituted for the standpipe shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a helical oonveyer in the standpipe forming a portion of the Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation showing a swivel joint employed in connection with the helical conveyor. Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing a derrick and pipe suspended therefrom, mechanism for adjustin the pipe and complementary mechanism or governing the discharge end of the concrete conveying pipe. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional illustration of a double swivel. Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the derrick and con- 'crete conveying pipe, the operators platform and the mechanism for controlling the valve in the discharge end of the pipe. The material is shown discharging into a mold.

and showing the provision of a flexible Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line ai v Fig. 8, showing the operators platform and the valve for controlling the fiow of concrete from the discharge end of the pipe.

In carrying out my invention I have illustrated an apparatus, which, though complete in all mechanical details and capable of executing the objects recited in the preamble, is susceptible of infinite changes, structurally and mechanically, the present. illustration being the preferred embodiment of the invention.

The apparatus consists of two inclosures or tanks A and B mounted on a suitable removable base 1, and having bolted or otherwise removably secured to the top thereof a hopper 2, whose outlet communicates with a pipe 3 having two branches 4 and 5. The outlets from said branch pipes 4 and 5 are respectively controlled by valves 6 whose stems 7 extend upward through bosses 8 provided respectively, on the said branches 4 and 5. On the ends of, the stems of the valves are secured cranks or oper ating levers 9, by means of which the discharge of material from the hopper into the respective tanks A and B is either permitted or cut ofi' according to necessity. These valves 6 consist of substantially segmental members having a sharp cutting or shearing edge 10 Fig. 2 whereby the flow of material is quickly out off from the supply.

The bottom of the tank A is provided with a boss 11, onto which is bolted an outlet pipe 12. Operating transversely within said pipe 12 is a valve 13. The stem 14 of said valve 13 extends through a. boss 15 providech on the pipe 12 and the end of said stem has its bearing in a boss 16 mounted on the base].

A crank 17 is fastened to the valve stem 14 of the valve and is connected by swivel means at 18 to a valve controlling lever 19 having a bifurcated extremity 20 Which straddles a lug 21 fixed on the base 1, and onto which lugsaid bifurcated end is pivoted by pin or bolt 22. The said pipe 12 communicates with a pipe 23 which is secured. to the bottom of the tank B. The tank B is likewise provided with a boss 11 onto which the pipe 23, is secured. Operating transversely within said pipe 23, is a valve, not shown, but similar to the valve 13,

operating in pipe 12. The stem 14, of such valve, extends through a boss 15 on the pipe 23, which boss is similar to the boss on pipe 12. The parts described in connection with tank A, to-wit: boss 16, crank 17, swivel means 18, controlling lever 19, lug 21, and bolt-22, are duplicated on tank B.

The tanks A and B are each provided with indicating mechanism and controlling means .therefor, connected to the respective levers 19, associated with the tanks, and organized in substantial duplication, whereofore the Extending away from one of the furca- I tions of the forked extremity of the lever 19 is an arm 24 provided with a slot for the accommodation of one end of a rod 25. A nut 26 is provided on said rod 25 and acts as an abutment for the arm 24. The other end of said rod 25 is operatively connected to a treadle 27 through its support which extends through a hollow boss 28 provided on the tank, and which terminates in a rod 29 carrying at its extremity a float 30.

The rod 25 is provided for the purpose of preventing the valve 13 from closing on or striking the float 30, since, when the float has descended into the outlet from the tank for purposes to be presently made clear, the

operation of the lever 19 to control the valve to cut off the flow from the tank will Onto the support of treadle 27 is pivotally secured a stem 31 linked to the end ,of an index 32 pivoted on the tank.

In Fig. 4 the treadle mechanism is fully shown. The treadle 27 is pivoted on the end of a rod 33 and is provided with a lug 34 onto which one end of a connection 35, is pivoted while the other end of said connection is pivoted to a pawl 36 mounted on the rod 33, which pawl is normally under the tension of a spring 37 whereby the pawl is disengaged from the shoulder 38 provided on the hollow boss 28 when the float has reached its highest position within the tank, which position is determined by the level of the material, which, rising higher than the float, as set by the operator, carries the float with it and automatically ice unlatches the pawl from the shoulder and allows the float to descend with thematerial.

When thevalve' is opened to allowthe material to discharge from the tank the float 30 follows the level ofthe material in the tank until the lowest position is reached which is .indicated by the index 32. The operation of;

the treadle raises the float to its normal position again.

The materialin the tanks A and B "is under pneumatic pressure supplied to the top of the tanks through pipes 39 and 40, respectively, connected with. supply pipe 41 and controllable by valves 42 and 43, respecfurther insure the thorough mixing of the concrete in-its ascent where the consistency of the material makesthe elevation more difiicult, I provide in the pipe 48 (shown in Fig. 6) a helical conveyer 49 fixed upon a revoluble shaft which is given motion bybevel gears 50 and a pulley 51. The said pipe 48 is mounted on a base 52 and is designed to be connected with the supply pipe By the provision ofa mechanical means in the pipe,

and the employment of pressure onthe mass, both solid and liquid portions of the mass are conveyed simultaneously.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a method of insuringthe retention of the air in a tank after its valve 6 has been operated to cut olfthe supply of concrete to the tank, where the valve does not seat itself. This method consists in the provision of a flexible and elastic disk or washer 5f fastened to the bottom of the valve and extending beyond the periphery of the same,'so that the air pressure within the tank will cause the flexibleprojecting periphery of the strip to be forced against the pipe and valve and thereby prevent the escape of any air. In

connection with said pipe 48 in which a helical conveyer is employed to assist in the elevation and, intimate mixing of the concrete, a cap' 55 having a flange 56 is provided, which cap is arranged tosit upon the pipe 48 and to be revol'ubly secured thereon by a rabbeted collar 57 bolted upon the flange .58 of the pipe 48. This cap serves the twofold purpose of forming a bearing for the shaft.59 of the spiral conveyer 49 and a joint for sections of pipe to be used, so that the delivery outlet from' the supply pipe may be moved in all directions without impeding the flow of material therethrough,

thereby rendering it capable of discharging into places of deposit wherever located, consistent with the dimensions of the apparatus.

To facilitate the deposit of concrete into the molds either on level or elevated planes, a derrick may be used. This derrick consists of a base 60 mounted to rotate in a suitable housing 61. Pivoted upon said base'60 is a truss or boom 62 adapted to be raised and lowered by a cable 63 extending over a roller 64 provided in the brace 65 which is spaced for' the accommodation of the truss or boom 62-. Any means for winding or unwinding the cable 63 may be employed, such, for instance, as a train of gears shown Extending 68. In said cap this means the pipes may be rotated in all directions, either with or independently of the revolution of the derrick and its comto receive another pipe 70, and this arrangement may be carried out indefinitely. The

jointed pipes 69 and 70 are suspended from said truss or boom by tackles 71 operating over the pulleys 72.

To control the movement of. the pipe 69 a Windlass is provided on the pipe 70 which is operated by a hand wheel 73, while to control the movement of the discharging ipe 70, a Windlass 75 mounted on the pipe 0 is employed, in this manner to govern the various necessary movements of the pipes either simultaneously or [independently of each other. 6

78 designates a gate valve for cutting off or permitting the discharge of material from the pipe. 6

'79 designates a platformv pivotally suspended from a strap 80 encircling the pipe 0, said platform being secured again'stany swinging motion and maintained in a horizontal plane by the rod 81 pivoted at one end to a cross rod 82 provided on the platform, and the other end of which is fastened to a pivoted link 83 attached to the joint between the pipes 69 and 70. Another rod 84: is likewise pivotally secured to said link 83 and to the cap 68. In this manner the platform 79 is steadily held in a horizontal position.

Suitable means for moving the derrick and discharging pipe as well as the platform may be employed, such, for instance,

'as a rope or cable 85.

If desired, the entire tank arrangement, with its component parts, may be provided with wheels to render it portable.

The operation, method f use and advantages of the apparatus and method'will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement :-In the form of apparatusillustrated, the material to be conveyed is admitted to the tanks A and B, alternately,- from the hopper, by opening the respective valve 6, the respective discharge valve 13 being closed during such admission. When a tank has received its charge of material, its valve 6 is closed, the pressure means for the respective tank ispermitted to act to expel the material from the tank and force it into i v the pipe line connected'therewith, the reupwardly through the base 60' Y of the derrick is a pipe 67 which is a continuation of the aforementioned pipe 45' and on' which is swiveled a' ca 68 isfalsoswiveled anot er pipe 69.

speetive discharge valve. 13 being opened when the tank is filled. and after the inlet valve 6 has been closed, and at the time the material is to be expelled from the tank. I

After the material in a tank has been expelled by maintaining pressure thereon, the respective discharge valve 13 is closed, the

pressure may be re1ieved,and-the respective inlet valve 6 maybe opened to recharge the tank. By alternately filling and discharging the tanks, and controlling the rate of discharge through the pressure controlling s means, shown as the valves 43 and 4A, 1 material under pressure may be continuously transferred to the pipe line. The pressure in a tank may be supplied or released, .as required, by manipulation of the respective air valve of the pressure controlling means. Concurrent with the application of pressure on the material deposited alternately in the tanks, the screw 49, in the pipe 48, connecting with the tanks, is set in motion by its operating means, as by power applied to the pulley 51, whereby the fluid or semi-fluid ingredient is elevated or conveyed simultaneously with the solid portion. In this manner and by the means referred to, the mass may be continuously delivered to its places of deposit, with the proper proportions maintained of the solids and fluids or semi-fluids.

What I claim is: l. The combination with a plurality of concrete or other building material receiving tanks, having inlets and outlets, of valves to control said inlets and outlets, a vertical delivery pipe connected with the outlets from said tanks, means to supply fluid pressure tothe top of the material in said tanks to force the material upwardly through said pipe, and an elevator in said delivery pipe to assist in the elevation of the material therethrough.

2., The combination with a plurality of concrete or other buildin material receiving tanks, having inlets and outlets, of valves tocontrol said inlets and outlets, a delivery pipe connected with the outlets from said tanks, means to supply fluid pressure to the top of. the material-in said tanks to force said material through saiddelivery pipe,

and a screw lift in said delivery pipe to as-- sist in the elevation of the material therethrough, said screw lift also serving to keep the; material in agitation.

' 3, The combination with a plurality of concrete or other building material receiving tanks, having valve controlled inlets and outlets, of a delivery pipe connected with the outlets from said tanks, means to supply.

air under pressure to the top of the material in said tanks to force the material through said delivery pipe, a screwlift in said delivery pipeto assist in the elevation of the material therethrough'and to keep .the material mixed, means to revolve said screw lift, and means to indicate the level ofs'aid material in said tanks. a a

4. The combination with concrete receiving tanks having inlets and outlets, of valves to control said inlets and outlets, a pipe connected with the outlets from said tanks, means to supply j pressure mechanically propellin a plurality of for said delivery pipe, a means carried by "said delivery pipe to universally swing said delivery pipe, and means to control the discharge of material from the discharge end of said delivery pipe.

5. The combination with concrete or other building material receiving pressure chambers, and means for supplying pressure thereto, of a pipe connected with the outlets from said pressure chambers, a revoluble screw lift in said pipe, a sectional universally jointed pipe line connected. with said first named pipe, means for revolubly suspending said pipe line, means carried by the discharge end of said pipe line to adjust same vertically, horizontally and laterally, and means for controlling the outlet from the discharge end of said pipe.

6. The combination with concrete or other building material receiving tanks, and means to supply pressure to said tanks, of a pipe connected to the outlets from said tanks, a

flexible jointed pipe connected to the first named pipe, means for suspending said pipe, means to universally ad ust sald pipe, means to control said means, a mechanical means to agitate and assist in conveying material through said pipe and means for operating said mechanical means. A

7 In a machine for delivering a mass of liquids and solids to suitable'places of de posit, the combination with a pipe line, of

mechanical means in said pipe line to convey the solids therethrough, an operating means for said mechanical means, means to, maintain pressure on the mass to convey the liquid portion thereof through said pipe line simultaneously with the conveyance of said solids, and means to control said pressure means. 1 v

'8. In a concrete machine, a concrete or other building material receivin receptacle, a pipe line connected with sai receptacle, mechanical means in said pipe for elevating the larger concrete aggregates, fa-pressure means cooperating with said mechanical means to elevate the liquid portions in said pipe line and simultaneously with the eleva, tion ,of said larger concrete aggregates,

means to operate said-mechanical means,

and means to control said pressure means.

9. The method of mixingand conveying the ingredients of concrete that consists in and mixing the solid ingredients thereo and simultaneously subjecting the liquid ingredient and the solid contained in said liquid ingredient to conveying and mixing fluid pressure while said liquid and contained solids are being mixed and conveyed with said solid ingredicnts. A 

